A few hours later; that night I’m on the couch with a still sick Ryder. I would be in my room; but the paint fumes are still in there. Ryder’s asleep; and has been since I came in here two hours ago. I’m watching a movie on the TV. Well I’m not watching it, it’s just playing. My attention is really just nowhere. It’s 10:30 p.m. and I’m getting kinda tired. I don’t wanna wake Ryder up though; because it seems the only time he isn’t puking is when he’s asleep. I feel kinda bad for him, since he’s sick. But on the bright side; I don’t have to go to work tomorrow. I carefully get up from the couch; trying not to disrupt Ryder. I walk out of the living room, and make my way to Sarah and Ricky’s room. I knock on the door and I hear a faint, “Come in.”

I push the door open and walk into the room. It’s been a long time since I’ve been in here. Like nine years ago when I was eight. The room still looks the same though, big and spacious as ever. Uncle Ricky is lying on the bed, reading a book and Sarah is at a work table, typing away on her laptop.

          “Hi McKenna.” She greets me.

          “Hey Sarah.” I reply, standing by her. “I’m sorry about the whole paint thing.” I tell her, even though it’s all cleaned up now.

She waves her hand dismissively, “It’s fine. Is there something you wanted to talk about?”

          “I was wondering if maybe I could not be grounded anymore.” I ask. I know it’s a long shot; but Sarah’s kinda a push over, so it’s easy to persuade her. “I’ll be good; I promise.” I add.

Sarah looks up at me for a few seconds before she says, “Okay. But I expect you to behave yourself.”

          “I will; I promise!” I say, hugging her, “Thank you, thank you, thank you!” I leave their room; and go back to the living room where Ryder’s awake now. His face is pale and his eyes are trained on the ceiling.

          “Hey Champ.” I say to him, sitting back down.

          “Champ?” He asks, laughing lightly.

          “How are you feeling?”

          “Bad. What time is it?”

          “10:45.”

Ryder groans, putting the pillow over his face. “You need to go to your room.” I tell him.

          “Why?”

          “Because if you sleep on this couch; you’ll mess up your back.”

          “Help me?” He asks.

I stand up, and grab his hand. I pull him up; well not really, he just gets up but I help him…kinda. We go up the stairs to Ryder’s room and he collapses on the bed and yawns. “I’m sleepy.”

          “Go to sleep then.” I tell him.

          “No, I need to take a shower.”

I go over to his drawer and pull it open. “What are you doing?” He asks me from the bed.

          “I’m getting you clothes to sleep in. What do you want?”

          “A pair of boxers and a shirt.” He tells me.

I look through the drawers, and fish out a blue t-shirt and a pair of blue and white striped boxers. I close the drawer and take the clothes to him. “Thank you.” He says.

          “Sure.” I respond, sitting by him on the bed. “You’re nice when you’re sick.”

          “Well if I was mean, you probably wouldn’t take care of me.”

          “This is true.” I agree.

          “Are you sleeping in here?” He asks me as he stands up, and walks over to the door.

          “Do you want me to?”

          “Do what you want.” Ryder replies nonchalantly as he leaves the room. I swear he’s so…I don’t even know the correct word to describe him.

I climb under his covers, pulling the up to my shoulders. Luckily, I showered earlier while he was still asleep, so now I don’t have to. I grab my phone from the floor and decide to call my mother back. I dial the number of her and Phil’s room at the resorts.

          “Hi McKenna.” She says, answering on the third ring.      

          “Hey Mom.” I reply. “I just wanted to call you back from earlier.”

          “Oh okay. I was calling to see how you were doing.”

          “Oh I’m doing pretty good.” I tell her honestly.

          “That’s great; so Vernon isn’t as bad as you thought it’d be?”

I shake my head, even though she can’t see me. “No, it isn’t all bad.”

I hear Phil yawn, well I hear a man, and I assume its Phil, and I say, “Wait, what time is it there?”

          “It’s 2 a.m.”

          “Oh...so like you guys are awake at 2 a.m.?” I wonder. It’s just strange because Phil and my mom always go to sleep around 9 o’clock back home.

          “We just got back from this beach show.”

          “Oh fun.” I say.

          “Isn’t it about 10 there?”

          “It’s almost 11.” I tell her. Then Ryder walks back into the room in his sleepwear shaking his wet hair. He sneezes and groans as he lies down on the bed.

          “Who’s that?” My mom asks suspiciously.

          “It’s Ryder.” I tell her.

          “Ryder? Is he sick or something?”

          “Yeah, he’s got like a cold or something.”

          “Oh well tell him I hope he feels better. And I’m gonna have to go now. I love you.”

          “Love you too.” I say, as I hang up the phone. I put the phone down and look over at Ryder, “My mom’s says she hopes you feel better.”

Ryder nods, acknowledging the fact that heard me. He gets under the cover, and pulls it over him. “Is this okay?” He wonders.

          “Me and you sleeping in the same bed?” I ask, even though I know that’s what he’s talking about.

Ryder nods, “Yes McKenna.” He answers as if I’m stupid for asking for clarification.

          “It’s okay. Just don’t touch me.” I warn.

          “Don’t flatter yourself, sweetheart.” He says, as he gets up to turn the light off. Ryder gets back in the bed, reclaiming his portion of the cover.

          “Do you feel better yet?” I ask him.

          “Somewhat.” He tells me.

          “Where’s your bucket?”

          “In the bathroom soaking.”

          “You need to take medicine.”

          “I don’t like medicine.” He mutters in the darkness.

          “You’re so stubborn.” I tell him.

          “Like you didn’t know that. And you’re way more stubborn than I am.”

          “That isn’t true.” I defend.

          “Oh but it is Mick.”

          “Is not.”

          “The fact that you’re arguing right now makes it true.”

I roll my eyes, even though he can’t see me due to the darkness. “I’m going to sleep now.”

          “Yeah okay.” He says, as he shifts in the bed, lying on his side, facing me with his eyes closed. I stay firmly on my back waiting for sleep to overcome me. Eventually, it does.

The next morning, which is the 20th, I wake up to the sound of Ryder retching. I almost gag at the horrid stench and look over at Ryder. God I hope he isn’t throwing up on the floor. Thankfully his bucket is below him and that’s what he’s emptying his body into. He groans and retches one more time. I pull myself up in the bed, and crawl over to Ryder. I rub his back. He looks up at me in shock at first but then he sits up in to bed as I rub his back.

          “This is freaking disgusting.” He says.

          “Tell me about it.” I mutter.

          “Sorry for waking you up.”

          “It’s okay.” I tell him, then I reach over and grab my phone. 10:24. “It’s time for people to wake up now anyway.”

Ryder looks up, and says to me, “You’re off of work today?”

I nod, “Indeed I am. And I’m also no longer grounded which means you and I going to L.A.”

          “I don’t wanna go to L.A., I’m sick.”

I roll my eyes, “Obviously you’re sick, that’s why we’re going. We’re going to Wal-Mart and I’m gonna buy you a bucket load of medicine.”

          “I told you I didn’t like medicine.” He scowls.

          “And I told you that I don’t like being around sick people.”

          “No you didn’t.”

          “Oh. Well I’m telling you now. So whether you like it or not, you and me are going to Wal-Mart, and I’m gonna get you some medicine, then we’re gonna come back here and you’re going to drink it.”

          “You can’t make me. I’m an adult.”

          “Oh yeah?” I say, raising my eyebrows, “We’ll see.”

At that moment, Ryder’s door flies open and Todd walks in. He raises his eyes at me and Ryder’s being in the same bed but doesn’t say anything. “Hey man.” He says to him.

          “Hey.” Ryder says, lying back down.

          “Still feeling bad?”

He nods and I get an idea. “Hey Todd?”

          “Yup?”

          “Will you do me the hugest favor?”

          “Hmm, depends.”

          “Will you go to Wal-Mart and get like some cold medicine?” If Ryder won't go voluntarily, I'll send Todd. And Ryder thinks he's so much smarter than me. 

          “I’m not taking it, McKenna.” Ryder warns me.

I ignore him, still looking at Todd, “Please?”

          “Fine, but I want gas money.”

          “Get the medicine first, and then you can have the gas money. Deal?”

Todd groans but says, “Fine. I’ll be back in about twenty minutes.”

With that, Todd leaves. “You suck.” Ryder tells me.

          “Sure I do.” I say, “Now I’m going to go take a shower and then we’re gonna go downstairs and eat with the rest of the family.”

          “I’m not hungry.” He tells me.

          “And I’m the stubborn one.” I mutter, getting up from his bed.

Twenty minutes later; I’m out of the shower and downstairs in the kitchen. Asher, Jacob, Will and Hailey are sitting at the table with me in addition to Sarah and Ricky. We’re eating actual breakfast today. I mean like real breakfast food. Today marks the fifth day I’ve been here; and all I’ve eaten is pizza and cereal.

          “Where’s Ryder?” Will asks.

          “He’s in his room. He claims he isn’t hungry.” I tell him as I drink my orange juice.

          “Poor Ryder.” Sarah says, “If he’d just take some medicine, he’d be okay.”

Then the front door slams and Todd calls out, “McKenna!”

I push my chair back and walk in the living room where Todd is standing with Chastity and he’s holding a Wal-Mart sack. “Here.”

          “Thanks.” I reply, jogging up the stairs.

I go into Ryder’s room and see him on the bed, ‘sleeping’. He isn’t really asleep. I can tell because he’s giving off fake snores and when Ryder’s really asleep; he doesn’t snore that heavily. I skip over to his bed, and plop down on it. “Get up.”

Ryder gives off another fake snore and turns over. “Ryder wake up!” I shout.

          “Go away.” He mutters.

I narrow my eyes at him and stand up from the bed. I climb up on top of Ryder’s bed and start jumping up and down on it, making his body flop around. Ryder growls and grabs my legs, making me fall down beside him. 

          “I told you to go away.” Ryder says grouchily. 

          “Listen to me Ryder, I’m going to open this medicine and you are going to take it and you are going to like it. Got it?”

Ryder rolls his eyes, “You don’t scare me.”

          “And you don’t scare me.” I tell him, as I grab the first box of medicine out of the bag. I open and pull the medicine out. I twist the cap off and pour the required amount in the cup. “Sit up.”

          “Did you think I was lying when I told you I wasn’t gonna take that shit you call medicine?”

          “Did you think I was lying when I told you that you were?” I fire back, “Now sit up so you don’t choke.”

          “Ever thought about having a kid? You’d make the perfect mom.” Ryder says sarcastically.

          “Ryder, get up.” I say, ignoring his comment. “Or I’ll shove it down your throat.”

          “Yeah, right.” He says.

I raise my eyebrows, “Don’t believe me?”

          “I sure don’t.” He tells me, as he closes his eyes.

I bring my fingers up to Ryder’s lips, and force them open, then pour the medicine in. Ryder coughs a few times as he sits up quickly. “Dude!”

          “I told you to I’d do it.” I say shrugging.

Ryder holds the liquid in his mouth; absolutely refusing to swallow. He leans over to his bucket, ready to spit it up. I grab his arm pulling him back. “Swallow.”

Ryder narrows his eyes at me, but I see the lump in his throat as he swallows the medicine. He shivers as it goes down his throat. “Cherry. Gross.”

          “Good boy.” I tell him, as my phone rings.

          “I’m going back to sleep.” He says, lying back down and pulling the cover over him.

          “Be my guest.” I say, grabbing my phone and leaving his room. “I’ll be back in a few hours so you can take some more.”

          “Yeah, sure!” He shouts back.

I look down at the Caller I.D. on my phone and see: Matt on the display. I hit the answer button as I walk into my room and sit down.

          “Hi Matt.”

          “Hey McKenna.”

          “What’s up? Oh and good news. I’m not grounded anymore.”

          “Seriously? That is good news. Wanna hang out?”

My mind drifts to Ryder; I don’t really wanna leave him here sick but this is Matt we’re talking about. Sure I don’t know him that well, but he’s pretty hot. I make up my mind and say, “Sure. Where at?”

          “We could go to the movies.” He tells me.

          “Okay, that sounds fun. Which one?”

Matt tells me the name and then he tells me to meet him there at 12 which is in about twenty minutes. I tell him that I’ll see him then and then we hang up. I go to my closet and pull out a random pair of blue jean shorts and a short sleeved black shirt. I get dressed, and then brush my hair down, letting it have some relief from the ponytail. At 11:45; I go into Ryder’s room and see that’s he’s fast asleep. Like, really asleep this time. I shake him awake and he frowns at me.

          “Why do you keep waking me up?” He asks in a hoarse voice.

          “I’m sorry.” I apologize. “Can I use your car, please?”

          “Aren’t your grounded?”

          “Not anymore.”

          “Alright.” He says, pointing to his closet.

          “What?” I ask, slightly confused.

          “My car keys are in my pants pocket, and my pants are in my closet in the hamper.

I go over to the closet, and retrieve the keys from his pocket. “Thanks Ryder.”

          “Yeah. Don’t harm my car….or yourself.” 

          “I won’t. I’ll see you later. And take some more medicine.”

There ya go, that's Ryder's way of telling me to be careful. So he's no Romeo with words, but the thought counts, I guess. 

          “Maybe.” He mutters, pulling to cover over his head.

I go downstairs, and walk out of the front door. I lock it behind me; yes Ryder got a new house key, and then unlock his car. I slide in and pull the seatbelt over me. Ryder’s obviously far more taller than I am, meaning that he’s got the seat adjusted way to far from the wheel for me. I stick my hand down and push the button that makes the seat move closer to the steering wheel. I sneeze unexpectedly, God I will kill Ryder if I’m getting sick. Then I’ll kill Jacob for getting him sick which would subsequently be the cause for me getting sick. I don’t feel sick; maybe it’s just the smell of Ryder’s car. It’s like…some kinda air freshener or something. I start the car up and put it in drive. It’s kinda hard to drive Ryder’s car, as it’s not like mine, but I think I can manage. I pull out of the driveway and merge onto the freeway toward L.A.